Southampton Confirm Senior First Team Coach Eric Black Has Resigned for 'Personal Reasons'

Southampton have announced that senior first team coach Eric Black has resigned from his post at the club for personal reasons. In a statement on the club's

Southampton have announced that senior first team coach Eric Black has resigned from his post at the club for personal reasons.

In a statement on the club's official website, they reveal that Black has suffered from the effects of various back injuries sustained during his playing days, and that the time is now right to address the problems and take some time away from the game.

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Vice chairman Les Reed said: "Eric Black is a fine coach and a true professional who is popular with the players and staff and always gave 100 per cent to his job. Fortunately, his situation is not serious and we hope he will be back in a tracksuit at some point in the future.

"Everyone at Southampton wishes him a speedy recovery. I would also personally like to thank him for his diligent work during his time with the club."

#SaintsFC Senior First Team Coach Eric Black has resigned from the club for personal reasons. Full statement: https://t.co/j00VwW4RrB

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 21, 2017

Black played as a striker and represented Aberdeen and Metz during the 1980s, and hung up his boots in 1991, before embarking on management in 2001 with Motherwell.

The Scot then had caretaker roles at Birmingham, Sunderland, Blackburn, Rotherham and Aston Villa, before joining the Saints' coaching staff in 2016.